Crystal Colon has been active in the Amherst community for years as a girls AAU/ Frenzy basketball coach, paraprofessional, Division Q Hot Shots teammate, dance teacher, basketball club founder, former ARD at ABC Amherst and business owner of Luciannie’s Empanadillas.
Recently, Colon suffered a stroke that nearly took her life and has completely altered it since. The lasting effects of the medical emergency now requires her to have 24-hour assistance, while also no longer being able to work in any of her previous roles.
“Seeing her go through this, and seeing how life can change so quickly, it really teaches you how to not take for granted what you have, the simplest things,” Colon’s best friend Nancita Alejandro said. “Your health, and also, who you are as a human being.”
Alejandro created a GoFundMe fundraiser to help generate money to assist Colon through her recovery, with hundreds of donations being made. Over $28,000 has been raised over the course of a few months.
Leaving an impact in a multitude of different areas in the community has allowed Colon to build a strong support system around her. Those strong relationships have remained through these tough times, with so many coming together to help however they can.
“There’s been an outpouring of concern, of people reaching out, just wanting to know how [Colon’s] doing,” Alejandro said. “… This is one of those things where you need that much support, for what she’s going through… It’s just amazing to see people really wanting to help her.”
The fundraiser will be used for a multitude of things to help Colon get her life back on track, with the biggest being finding her new housing. Currently, she resides in a second-floor apartment that includes two flights of stairs to reach the bathroom.
With her health taking such a big hit, the priority is finding her a place that is much more accessible for the future.
“There’s medical expenses, there’s expenses for her therapies, there’s expenses for all the different adaptive equipment that we’re gonna have to get, and then there’s the living expenses,” Alejandro said. “We need to get her into an ADA apartment as quickly as possible. so that she can live as close to normal as possible.”
Alejandro is also seeking individuals, businesses or organizations interested in helping establish a sustainable annual fundraiser that incorporates some of Colon’s passions (basketball, dance or food).
With uncertainty surrounding Colon’s future earning potential, continued financial assistance would be a huge benefit for her future outlook.
As she continues to work toward getting her life back as normal as possible, the continued support from the students she’s impacted over the years helps to keep a positive mindset. The life-altering journey won’t be an easy one, but having people in the community by her side will make a significant difference.
“I can see in her face, when she’s reading the cards that [her students] send her, and watching the video messages, and watching the dances that they dedicate to her,” Alejandro said. “I can see her, just being happy, and I’ve had conversations with her where she just reflects on her life, what she’s done and where she’s come from. She’s really made something for herself.”
